Pimpri: The lockdown was declared across the country due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Maharashtra State Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray, had appealed to the public to celebrate festivals in a simple manner, with following the basic norms of social distance to control the spread of the virus.

On June 18, this year, CM Thackeray held a meeting with the Presidents of major Ganpati Mandals in Pimpri Chinchwad city via video conferencing. In response to their call, Pimpri Chinchwad's public Ganeshotsav Coordinating Committee has decided to celebrate this year's Ganeshotsav with simplicity, said Madhukar Babar, Chairman, Pimpri Chinchwad City Public Ganeshotsav Committee and former corporator.

Coordinators named, Madhukar Babar, Datta Pavale of the Bajrang Mitra Mandal, Santosh Kavade, Rajabhau Golande of Gandhi Peth Talim Mitra Mandal, Sambhaji Suryavanshi of Shrikrishna Kranti Mitra Mandal, Nana Kalbhor of Rashtratej Tarun Mandal, Ulhas Shetty of Tarun Mitra Mandal, Jayhind Mitra. Rajesh Falke of Mandal, Romi Sandhu of Shivraje Pratishthan, Nakul Bhoir of Utkarsh Mitra Mandal, Dattatraya Chinchwade of Nav Tarun Mitra Mandal, Adv. Nitin Landage, Pramod Kute of Ekta Mitra Mandal, Prashant Shitole of Season Group and others were present.

In Pune's twin city of Pimpri Chinchwad area, there are around 850 such public Ganeshotsav Mandals. Various religious and social awareness programs are celebrated on a large scale throughout the year with the help of donations and subscriptions of devotees. However, the outbreak has put all the circles in financial trouble.

Speaking to Sakal Times, Babar said, "It is impossible to celebrate this festival in a grand way considering the current situation of pandemic spread. Maintaining social distance must be mandatory in Ganpati Utsav. As a result, this year's public Ganeshotsav will be celebrated in a simple manner and the funds received from devotees as well as other donors and well-wishers will be utilized for the Chief Minister's Assistance Fund during this period. We will soon be commencing with some theme but at present, we are focusing more on pandemic related issues as well as save working to save Environment. Our theme for this year is Green Ganapati."